Please review our Chat Room Etiquette.

• Java-compatible Web browsers 
• What you should be seeing 
• How to clear your browser cache 
• TCP ports used by GayCanada.Com chat 

• "Unable to connect" message 
• "Your browser is not Java-compatible" message 
• Enter button won't load in Internet Explorer. 
• Scroll bar isn't working on Macintosh. 
• I use WebTV 

Ensure you have a Java-compatible Web browser
• Check our list of Java-compatible Web browsers to ensure you have what you need. 
• Ensure your Java-compatible Web browser is configured properly. 
• For Netscape look under "Edit," "Preferences," highlight "Advanced" and ensure that both the "Enable Java" and "Enable JavaScript" boxes are checked. 
• For Internet Explorer look under "Tools," select "Internet Options," click the "Advanced" tab, scroll to "Microsoft VM," then check all 3 boxes. 
• If your browser is configured incorrectly, you may see an "unable to connect" message.

 

 
 
 
 
 

Ensure you have the latest copy of the chat client (and other Web documents)

• For Netscape, go to "Edit," select "Preferences," click on "Advanced," highlight "Cache," ensure you have either "Once per session" or "Every time" selected. 
• For Internet Explorer go to "Tools," select "Internet Options," click the "General" tab, under "Temporary Internet files" click "Settings," confirm that either "Every visit to the page" or "Every time you start Internet Explorer" is selected. 
• If you have a back-level version of the chat client, you will see an "Unable to connect" message. You need to clear your cache.

 

 
 
 
 
 

Give yourself a little time

• The GayCanada.Com chat rooms' chat client (Applet) is either 35 or 94 kilobytes in size, depending on your browser. Your download time will vary, depending on your browser type and your connection speed. Allow yourself enough time to download the entire page, graphics and Applet included. 

If your browser, browser release or computer platform is not listed here, it is very likely that your browser uses options similar to these to clear its cache. Please consult the product documentation or online help for detailed instructions.

• Close all browser windows. 
• From the "Edit" pull-down menu, select "Preferences." 
• Expand the "Advanced" options by clicking on the arrow pointing to "Advanced." 
• Select "Cache." 
• Confirm you have either "Once per session" or "Every time" selected. 
• Click on "Clear Disk Cache" (click "OK" when you're asked if you're sure). 
• Click "OK." 
• Quit out of the browser. 
• Launch the browser again. 
• Go to the GayCanada.Com chat page. 

• From the "Edit" pulldown menu, select "Preferences." 
• Expand the "Advanced" options by double-clicking on it. 
• Select "Cache." 
• Confirm you have either "Once per session" or "Every time" selected. 
• Click on "Clear Memory Cache" (click "OK" when you're asked if you're sure). 
• Click on "Clear Disk Cache" (click "OK" when you're asked if you're sure). 
• Click "OK." 
• Quit out of the browser. 
• Launch the browser again. 
• Go to the GayCanada.Com chat page. 

• Close all browser windows. 
• From the "Edit" pulldown menu, select "Preferences." 
• If it's not already expanded, select the "Web Browser" section by clicking on the right-arrow. 
• Select the "Advanced" button. 
• Confirm you have either "Once per session" or "Always" selected. 
• Click on "Empty Now." 
• Click "OK." 
• Quit out of the browser. 
• Launch the browser again. 
• Go to the GayCanada.Com chat page. 

• From the "Tools" pulldown menu, select "Internet Options." 
• A window with several tabs will open; select "General" if you're not already there. 
• Click on "Settings" in the square labeled "Temporary Internet files." 
• Confirm you have either "Every visit to the page" or "Every time you start Internet Explorer" selected; click "OK." 
• Click on "Delete Files" (click "OK" when you're asked if you're sure). 
• Click "OK." 
• Quit out of the browser. 
• Launch the browser again. 
• Go to the GayCanada.Com chat page. 

• From the "My AOL" pulldown menu, select "Preferences" on the toolbar. 
• Locate the "WWW" icon and click on it. 
• Locate the square labeled "Disk Cache." 
• Click on the "Empty Cache Now" button. 
• Click "OK." 
• Quit out of the browser. 
• Launch the browser again. 
• Go to the GayCanada.Com chat page. 

• From the "My AOL" pulldown menu, select "Preferences" on the toolbar. 
• From the "Preferences" window, select the "WWW" icon. 
• A window with several tabs will open; select "General," if you're not already there. 
• In the square labeled "Temporary Internet files," click on "Settings." 
• Confirm you have either "Every visit to the page" or "Every time you start Internet Explorer" selected; click "OK." 
• Click on "Delete Files;" click "OK" when you're asked if you're sure. 
• Click "OK." 
• Close the "Preferences" window and all the browser windows. 
• Go to the GayCanada.Com chat page. 

• Currently not available 
• Please visit NeoPlanet for more information. 

• From the "View" pulldown menu, select "Control Panel (all settings)." 
• Double-click on "Internet/IE Settings" in the box marked 'Temporary Internet Files', click on "Settings." 
• Confirm you have either "Every visit to the page" or "Every time you start Internet Explorer" selected. 
• Click "OK." 
• Click on "Delete Files" (click "OK" when you're asked if you're sure). 
• Click "OK" 
• Quit out of the browser. 
• Launch the browser again. 
• Go to the GayCanada.Com chat page. 

Seeing an "Unable to connect to GayCanada.Com chat rooms" message could mean one of several things. In most cases, if you wait a minute or two, you will see a page that further explains why you are unable to connect. 

• GayCanada.Com chat rooms may be full.

The server may be so busy that it cannot handle any more connections at the moment. If this is the case, you will see a page telling you so. Try again in a few minutes.
 
• You may have a earlier version of the chat client (the applet).

To download a fresh copy, follow instructions for clearing your cache.
 
• Your proxy server or firewall won't allow the connection. 

First check that your browser is properly configured to talk to the proxy server. If it is, work with your network administrator to determine if it's possible to get the connection allowed. 

One indication that a proxy server or firewall will not allow the connection is seeing a message that says "unable to enter this floor" prior to being taken back to the chat floor pulldown menu. You might also see a message like the one below.
 

applet COM.volano.VolanoChat can't start: security violation: socket... 

• Your commercial ISP does not allow connections.

Over the network port the chat server listens on. In this case, you need to work with the ISP to rectify the situation.

If you don't see the enter button, it may mean you don't have a Java-compatible browser. If this is the case, you might see this message: 

Sorry, but your Web browser is not Java-compatible. Please see our "getting started" page for more information. After you've upgraded your software, come back to GayCanada.Com. There's a party going on inside! 

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The scroll bars in the chat rooms won't work on Macintosh.
Internet Explorer users must install Apple's Mac OS Runtime for Java to be able to chat on our site.